Vehicular display system

ABSTRACT

A vehicular display system includes a movable body displaceable between an erect position and a tilted position, a first moving body disposed on the vehicle upper side of the movable body in the erect position, a second moving body disposed on the vehicle lower side of the movable body in the erect position, a drive device that displaces the movable body between the erect position and the tilted position, a guide device that guides the second moving body along the displacement operation of the movable body between the erect position and the tilted position, a display device that allows a user to view vehicle interior display information as if the information were displayed in an information display area of the movable body, and an elastic member that applies an elastic force between the movable body and the drive device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application claims priority to and incorporates by referencethe entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-093628 filedin Japan on May 15, 2018.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a vehicular display system.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, vehicle interiors are each provided with a vehiculardisplay system that displays vehicle interior display information (whatis provided as visual information to occupants in a vehicle interior).For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. 2017-146190,2017-144869, and 2017-144870 each disclose a vehicular display systemthat uses a power source, such as an electric motor, to displace amovable body between an erect position and a tilted position, anddisplays the vehicle interior display information in an inside area of aframe of the movable body.

When the movable body is displaced from the erect position to the tiltedposition, the direction of a force applied by transmitted power of thepower source is the same as the direction of a force applied by an ownweight of the movable body at a point of application of the power. Incontrast, when the movable body is displaced from the tilted position tothe erect position, the direction of the force applied by thetransmitted power of the power source is opposite to the direction ofthe force applied by the own weight of the movable body at the point ofapplication of the power. Thus, the force applied by the own weight actsagainst the force applied by the transmitted power. As a result, theload of the power source is higher when the movable body is displacedfrom the tilted position to the erect position than when the movablebody is displaced from the erect position to the tilted position. Thedifference in the load of the power source caused by the difference inthe direction of the displacement increases with increase in the mass ofthe movable body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide avehicular display system capable of reducing the load of the powersource.

In order to achieve the above mentioned object, a vehicular displaysystem according to one aspect of the present invention includes amovable body that is displaceable between an erect position in which aninformation display area is directed toward a user side and a tiltedposition in which the information display area is brought closer to ahorizontal position than the erect position; a first moving body that isdisposed on one of a vehicle upper side and a vehicle lower side of themovable body in the erect position, and is configured to move in anintegrated manner with the movable body; a second moving body that isdisposed on the other of the vehicle upper side and the vehicle lowerside of the movable body in the erect position, and is configured tomove in an integrated manner with the movable body; a drive deviceconfigured to transmit power of a power source to the first moving bodyvia a power transmission device, and to displace the movable bodybetween the erect position and the tilted position while relativelyrotating the first moving body about an axis of a first rotary shaft; aguide device configured to guide the second moving body along thedisplacement operation of the movable body between the erect positionand the tilted position while relatively rotating the second moving bodyabout an axis of a second rotary shaft; a display device configured toallow the user to view vehicle interior display information as if thevehicle interior display information were displayed in the informationdisplay area; and an elastic member configured to apply an elastic forcebetween the movable body and the drive device, the elastic force beingdue to the displacement operation of the movable body from the tiltedposition side to the erect position side.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in the vehiculardisplay system, it is desirable that the elastic member is provided soas to increase the elastic force with increase in an amount of thedisplacement of the movable body from the erect position toward thetilted position.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, in thevehicular display system, it is desirable that the drive device includesa holding body configured to hold the first moving body in a staterelatively rotatable about the axis of the first rotary shaft, and theelastic member is provided so as to apply the elastic force to the firstmoving body and the holding body in directions opposite to each otheralong a circle about the axis of the first rotary shaft.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, in thevehicular display system, it is desirable that the elastic member is atorsion coil spring.

The above and other objects, features, advantages and technical andindustrial significance of this invention will be better understood byreading the following detailed description of presently preferredembodiments of the invention, when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a mounted state of a vehiculardisplay system according to an embodiment of the present invention in avehicle interior;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the vehicular display systemof the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an internal structure of thevehicular display system of the embodiment, and is a view illustrating astate where a movable body is in an erect position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the internal structure of the vehiculardisplay system of the embodiment as viewed from another angle, and is aview illustrating the state where the movable body is in the erectposition;

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating the internal structure of thevehicular display system of the embodiment, and is a view illustratingthe state where the movable body is in the erect position;

FIG. 6 a perspective view illustrating the internal structure of thevehicular display system of the embodiment, and is a view illustrating astate where the movable body is in a tilted position;

FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating the internal structure of thevehicular display system of the embodiment, and is a view illustratingthe state where the movable body is in the tilted position;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of part A of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 a perspective view illustrating a periphery of an elastic memberin the state where the movable body is in the tilted position;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a deformation mode of theelastic member in the mounted state, and illustrates the periphery ofthe elastic member in the state where the movable body is in the erectposition;

FIG. 11 is a side view illustrating the deformation mode of the elasticmember in the mounted state, and illustrates the internal structure ofthe vehicular display system in the state where the movable body is inthe erect position;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the deformation mode of theelastic member in the mounted state, and illustrates the periphery ofthe elastic member in the state where the movable body is in the tiltedposition; and

FIG. 13 is a side view illustrating the deformation mode of the elasticmember in the mounted state, and illustrates the internal structure ofthe vehicular display system in the state where the movable body is inthe tilted position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following describes in detail an embodiment of a vehicular displaysystem according to the present invention, based on the drawings. Theembodiment does not limit the present invention.

Embodiment

The embodiment of the vehicular display system according to the presentinvention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 13.

Reference numeral 1 in FIGS. 1 to 7 denotes the vehicular display systemof the present embodiment. This vehicular display system 1 is mounted inan interior of a vehicle, and provides vehicle interior displayinformation displayed in the vehicle interior as visual information tousers in the vehicle interior. The vehicular display system 1 maydisplay the vehicle interior display information at any place in thevehicle interior. The vehicle interior display information may be anyinformation provided in the vehicle interior.

The vehicular display system 1 exemplified therein is mainly used as avehicular measuring instrument, and displays vehicle information, suchas a vehicle speed, as the vehicle interior display information in frontof the eyes of a driver as a main user. Therefore, the vehicular displaysystem 1 is disposed such that the vehicle interior display informationis displayed in an accommodation unit 101 of an instrument panel (FIGS.1, 5, and 7). The vehicular display system 1 can also display, forexample, drive assist information (such as route guidance information ofa navigation system and information on other vehicles obtained throughroad-to-vehicle communication) that contributes to convenience of thedriver, as the vehicle interior display information.

The vehicular display system 1 includes a movable body 10 provided withan information display area 10 a (FIGS. 1 to 3 and 6). The vehicleinterior display information is displayed in the information displayarea 10 a. The information display area 10 a may be a place where thevehicle interior display information is directly displayed, or a placewhere the vehicle interior display information is indirectly displayed.For example, if the movable body 10 is configured as a display unit(such as a liquid crystal panel), the vehicle interior displayinformation is directly displayed in the information display area 10 a.In this example, a display device 60 (to be described later) projectsthe vehicle interior display information on a semi-transparent mirror 62as, for example, a virtual image so as to overlap the informationdisplay area 10 a when viewed from the user, and thereby indirectlydisplays the vehicle interior display information in the informationdisplay area 10 a.

The vehicular display system 1 of this example is configured to becapable of displacing the movable body 10 between an erect position P1(FIGS. 2 to 5) and a tilted position P2 (FIGS. 6 and 7) (FIG. 1). Theerect position P1 refers to a position in which the information displayarea 10 a is directed toward the user side in the vehicle interior.Herein, the movable body 10 is erected in the vehicle up-down directionat the erect position P1 such that the information display area 10 a isdirected rearward of the vehicle. However, while the movable body 10 ofthis example is erected in the vehicle up-down direction, the movablebody 10 is tilted such that the vehicle upper side thereof is locatedslightly more vehicle frontward than the vehicle lower side thereof, andthis position is defined as the erect position P1. The tilted positionP2 refers to a position in which the information display area 10 a isbrought closer to a horizontal position than the erect position P1.Herein, the tilted position P2 is defined as a position in which theinformation display area 10 a is brought closer to the horizontalposition so as to be directed upward of the vehicle. However, while themovable body 10 of this example is brought closer to the horizontalposition so as to be directed upward of the vehicle, the vehicle frontside of the movable body 10 is lifted slightly more vehicle upward thanthe vehicle rear side thereof, and this position is defined as thetilted position P2.

In the vehicular display system 1 of this example, the whole of themovable body 10 is gradually displaced toward the vehicle rear side andthe vehicle lower side while increasing the tilt angle thereof withrespect to the vehicle up-down direction from that in the erect positionP1, and thereby reaches the tilted position P2. The whole of the movablebody 10 is gradually displaced toward the vehicle front side and thevehicle upper side while reducing in the tilt angle thereof with respectto the vehicle up-down direction from that in the tilted position P2,and thereby reaches the erect position P1.

The vehicular display system 1 is configured to be capable of using atleast the erect position P1 and the tilted position P2 as fixedpositions of the movable body 10. Accordingly, the vehicular displaysystem 1 may be configured to be capable of using an intermediateposition between the erect position P1 and the tilted position P2 as afixed position. The vehicular display system 1 is configured to displaythe vehicle interior display information in the information display area10 a at least in the erect position P1. Accordingly, the vehiculardisplay system 1 may display the vehicle interior display information inthe information display area 10 a in the tilted position P2, and may beconfigured to display the vehicle interior display information in theinformation display area 10 a in the intermediate fixed position betweenthe erect position P1 and the tilted position P2.

Furthermore, the vehicular display system 1 may be configured to displaythe vehicle interior display information in the information display area10 a during the displacement operation between the erect position P1 andthe tilted position P2.

The movable body 10 of this example includes a frame 11 and a closingmember 12 that closes a space inside the frame 11 (FIGS. 1 to 4 and 6).The vehicular display system 1 allows the user to view the vehicleinterior display information as if the vehicle interior displayinformation were displayed inside the frame 11. Accordingly, in themovable body 10 of this example, a wall surface of the closing member 12inside the frame 11 is used as the information display area 10 a.

The frame 11 is formed into an annular shape or a non-annular shapelacking a part of the annular shape. For example, the frame 11 is formedinto a circular ring shape or a C-ring shape. The frame 11 in thisexample is formed into a circular ring shape.

The frame 11 is used as a decorative member serving as a visual objectof the user. Accordingly, the frame 11 is formed, for example, into thecircular ring shape from, for example, a synthetic resin material, andis subjected to, for example, a metallic treatment at least in aposition visible from the user, and thereby is improved in appearance.To further improve the appearance, the frame 11 is preferably formedfrom a mineral (such as a metal) as a raw material.

The closing member 12 is formed into a shape fitting with a shape of aspace inside the frame 11, and is mounted to the frame 11 from the backside (the vehicle front side in the erect position P1 or the vehiclelower side in the tilted position P2) thereof such that the user canview the frame 11. The closing member 12 of this example is formed intoa circular disc shape so as to fit with a circular shape inside theframe 11, and a wall surface thereof on the user side inside the frame11 is used as the information display area 10 a. The closing member 12is formed from, for example, a dark-colored synthetic resin material soas not to allow the user to view a mechanism or the like on the backside (the vehicle front side in the erect position P1 or the vehiclelower side in the tilted position P2) of the closing member 12.

Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience, the “front side” of themovable body 10 denotes the vehicle rear side of the movable body 10 inthe erect position P1 or the vehicle upper side of the movable body 10in the tilted position P2, and the “back side” of the movable body 10denotes the vehicle front side of the movable body 10 in the erectposition P1 or the vehicle lower side of the movable body 10 in thetilted position P2.

The movable body 10 is held from the back side by a holding member 14(FIGS. 2 to 7), and is displaced between the erect position P1 and thetilted position P2 via the holding member 14. The holding member 14 isformed from, for example, a synthetic resin material, and is integratedwith the movable body 10 using fastening members, such as screw members(not illustrated).

The vehicular display system 1 includes a first moving body that isdisposed on one of the vehicle upper side and the vehicle lower side ofthe movable body 10 in the erect position P1 and moves in an integratedmanner with the movable body 10 and a second moving body that isdisposed on the other thereof and moves in an integrated manner with themovable body 10. The first moving body and the second moving body areprovided at the holding member 14. The holding member 14 of this examplehas a first moving body 14 a on the vehicle upper side thereof and asecond moving body 14 b on the vehicle lower side thereof (FIGS. 2 to4).

The vehicular display system 1 includes a drive device 20 that displacesthe movable body 10 between the erect position P1 and the tiltedposition P2 via the holding member 14, and a guide device 30 thatassists the displacement operation of the movable body 10 between theerect position P1 and the tilted position P2 (FIGS. 2 to 7).

The drive device 20 and the guide device 30 are mounted and supported ona structural member 41 and a structural member 42 of this system (FIG.2). The structural member 41 and the structural member 42 are formedfrom, for example, a metal material. The structural member 41 is formedfrom, for example, a metal sheet as a base material, and is disposedbetween the movable body 10 in the erect position P1 and the drivedevice 20 so as to be capable of covering and hiding the drive device 20from the user side as far as possible. The structural member 42 isformed from, for example, a metal sheet as a base material, and isdisposed on the vehicle lower side of the movable body 10 in the erectposition P1 and on the back side of the movable body 10 in the tiltedposition P2. The guide device 30 is placed on the structural member 42.In the vehicular display system 1, to allow the user to view only themovable body 10 as far as possible, the structural member 41 and thestructural member 42 are, covered together with the drive device 20 andthe guide device 30, by a cover member (not illustrated) so as toprevent the user from viewing these components. Accordingly, the covermember is formed from, for example, a dark-colored synthetic resinmaterial.

The drive device 20 includes a power source 21, a power transmissiondevice 22, and a drive controller 23 (FIGS. 5 and 7). The drive device20 transmits power of the power source 21 as a driving force during thedisplacement operation of the movable body 10 between the erect positionP1 and the tilted position P2 to the first moving body 14 a via thepower transmission device 22. The drive device 20 is disposed mainly onthe back side of the movable body 10 in the erect position P1 and on theback side (vehicle front side) of the structural member 41, and ismounted on the structural member 41.

The power source 21 generates the power serving as a source of thedriving force for displacing the movable body 10. In this example, anelectric motor is used as the power source 21. The power source 21 iscontrolled by the drive controller 23. For example, the drive controller23 controls the power output from the power source 21 according to atarget position after the displacement of the movable body 10. The powersource 21 of this example is mounted on the structural member 41 usingfastening members, such as screw members (not illustrated).

The power of the power source 21 is transmitted to the powertransmission device 22 either directly or indirectly via, for example, agroup of gears. When the power of the power source 21 is transmitted,the power transmission device 22 displaces the movable body 10 betweenthe erect position P1 and the tilted position P2. The power transmissiondevice 22 converts the power transmitted from the power source 21 intothe driving force, and transmits it to the movable body 10. The powertransmission device 22 of this example is mounted on the structuralmember 41 using fastening members, such as screw members (notillustrated). The power transmission device 22 includes a powertransmission mechanism 50 (FIGS. 2 to 7).

The power transmission mechanism 50 is a movement direction conversionmechanism that converts rotational torque about an axis into a forcealong the axis line direction. The power transmission mechanism 50 ofthis example includes a shaft member 51 and a movement directionconversion member 52 reciprocatable on the shaft member 51 along theaxis line direction thereof along with the rotation of the shaft member51 about the axis (FIGS. 3 to 7). Specifically, the power transmissionmechanism 50 is configured as what is called a lead screw mechanism.

The power of the power source 21 is transmitted to the shaft member 51either directly or indirectly via, for example, the group of gears. Theshaft member 51 is disposed with the axis line extending in the vehicleup-down direction. An end on the vehicle upper side of shaft member 51is mounted to the power source 21 side so as to be rotatable about theaxis, and the other end on the vehicle lower side thereof is mounted tothe structural member 41 with a bearing 53 (FIG. 4) interposedtherebetween so as to be rotatable about the axis. The shaft member 51of this example is tilted at the same angle as the tilt angle of themovable body 10 in the erect position P1. The shaft member 51 of thisexample is disposed on the back side of the structural member 41. Theshaft member 51 is formed from, for example, a metal material into acircular cylinder or tube shape, and has a male threaded portion 51 athreaded along the axis direction on the outer circumferential surfaceof the circular cylinder or tube shape (FIGS. 3 to 7).

The movement direction conversion member 52 has a female threadedportion (not illustrated) screwed onto the male threaded portion 51 a.The power of the power source 21 is transmitted to the movementdirection conversion member 52 via the shaft member 51. The movementdirection conversion member 52 of this example is broadly divided into afirst movement direction conversion member 52A and a second movementdirection conversion member 52B (FIGS. 3, 5, and 7).

The first movement direction conversion member 52A is formed from, forexample, a synthetic resin material, and is disposed on the back side ofthe structural member 41. A female threaded member 52C having a femalethreaded portion is mounted to the first movement direction conversionmember 52A (FIG. 4). The first movement direction conversion member 52Ais rotatably held on the shaft member 51 in the state where the malethreaded portion 51 a is screwed into the female threaded portion. Thefirst movement direction conversion member 52A is mounted to thestructural member 42 with the second movement direction conversionmember 52B, the holding member 14, and the guide device 30 interposedtherebetween so as not to make a movement other than the movement alongthe axis line direction of the shaft member 51. Accordingly, the firstmovement direction conversion member 52A can reciprocate on the shaftmember 51 along the axis line direction thereof in conjunction with theaxial rotation of the shaft member 51 to which the power of the powersource 21 is transmitted.

The second movement direction conversion member 52B is formed from asynthetic resin material, and is disposed on the front side (vehiclerear side) of the structural member 41. The second movement directionconversion member 52B is mounted to the first movement directionconversion member 52A using fastening members, such as screw members(not illustrated). Accordingly, the second movement direction conversionmember 52B can reciprocate together with the first movement directionconversion member 52A along the axis line direction of the shaft member51 in conjunction with the axial rotation of the shaft member 51 towhich the power of the power source 21 is transmitted. A through-hole 41a is formed in the structural member 41 so as not to block thereciprocation of the movement direction conversion member 52 (FIG. 2).

The first moving body 14 a is rotatably mounted to the second movementdirection conversion member 52B with a first rotary shaft 15A (FIGS. 2to 7) interposed therebetween. Accordingly, the power of the powersource 21 transmitted to the movement direction conversion member 52 istransmitted to the first moving body 14 a via the first rotary shaft15A. The first rotary shaft 15A is formed from, for example, a metalmaterial into a circular cylinder or tube shape, and is disposed suchthat the axis line thereof extends in the vehicle width direction. Thesecond movement direction conversion member 52B makes, as a movementthereof, only reciprocation along the axis line direction of the shaftmember 51. Therefore, when making the reciprocation, the second movementdirection conversion member 52B can relatively rotate the first movingbody 14 a via the first rotary shaft 15A while transmitting the power ofthe power source 21 via the first rotary shaft 15A to the first movingbody 14 a. Accordingly, when the power of the power source 21 istransmitted to the first moving body 14 a, the drive device 20 candisplace the movable body 10 between the erect position P1 and thetilted position P2 while rotating the first moving body 14 a relative tothe second movement direction conversion member 52B about the axis ofthe first rotary shaft 15A in conjunction with the operation of theguide device 30.

For example, the first moving body 14 a is provided with two pieceportions 14 a ₁ arranged so as to be opposed to each other with a spacetherebetween in the axis line direction of the first rotary shaft 15A.The second movement direction conversion member 52B is provided with twopiece portions 52B₁ arranged so as to be opposed to each other with aspace therebetween in the axis line direction of the first rotary shaft15A (FIGS. 8 and 9). The first moving body 14 a and the second movementdirection conversion member 52B are coupled together by arranging one ofthe piece portions 14 a ₁ and one of the piece portions 52B₁ so as to beopposed in the axis line direction of the first rotary shaft 15A, andarranging the other of the piece portions 14 a ₁ and the other of thepiece portions 52B₁ so as to be opposed in the axis line direction ofthe first rotary shaft 15A, and by inserting the first rotary shaft 15Ainto through-holes of the respective piece portions 14 a ₁ and 52B₁.

The guide device 30 guides the movable body 10 along the displacementoperation between the erect position P1 and the tilted position P2 so asto assist the displacement operation. The guide device 30 includes aguided portion 31 and a guide rail 32 for guiding the guided portion 31(FIGS. 2 to 5 and 7). In this example, a pair of the guided portions 31and the guide rails 32 are provided on the vehicle left side and thevehicle right side as viewed from the movable body 10, one of the pairon each side.

In the guide device 30, the displacement operation is guided by guidingthe guided portion 31 provided at the second moving body 14 b in thevehicle front-rear direction along the guide rail 32. At that time, thesecond moving body 14 b is guided with respect to the guide rail 32while relatively rotating about the axis of a second rotary shaft 15B(FIGS. 2 to 7). The second rotary shaft 15B is formed from, for example,a metal material into a circular cylinder or tube shape. The secondrotary shaft 15B is disposed such that the axis line thereof extends inthe vehicle width direction so as to align the axis line directionthereof with the axis line direction of the first rotary shaft 15A.

The guided portion 31 of this example is constituted by first and secondconcentric rotary bodies 31A and 31B provided to the second rotary shaft15B (FIGS. 4, 5, and 7). The first and second rotary bodies 31A and 31Bform a pair, and sets of the pair are provided at both ends of thesecond rotary shaft 15B, one set at each end. Each of the first andsecond rotary bodies 31A and 31B may be a circular disc-like member or acircular ring-like member using the outer circumferential surfacethereof as a rolling surface, or may be a spur gear. In this example, aspur gear is used as the first rotary body 31A whereas a circularring-like member is used as the second rotary body 31B.

The guide rail 32 is mounted on the structural member 42 using fasteningmembers, such as screw members (not illustrated). The guide rail 32includes a rack portion 32A meshed with teeth of the first rotary body31A and an accommodation unit 32B that accommodates the second rotarybody 31B (FIGS. 2 to 5 and 7). The rack portion 32A rotates the firstrotary body 31A along the displacement operation of the movable body 10between the erect position P1 and the tilted position P2 while meshingteeth thereof with the teeth of the first rotary body 31A. Theaccommodation unit 32B sandwiches the rolling surface of the secondrotary body 31B in the vehicle up-down direction, and at the same time,guides the second rotary body 31B along the displacement operation ofthe movable body 10 between the erect position P1 and the tiltedposition P2 while rotating the second rotary body 31B. The rack portion32A and the accommodation unit 32B extend in the vehicle front-reardirection, and are inclined such that the vehicle rear side thereof islocated on the vehicle lower side than the vehicle front side thereof.

When the drive device 20 displaces the movable body 10 between the erectposition P1 and the tilted position P2, the guide device 30 rotates thesecond moving body 14 b about the axis of the second rotary shaft 15Brelative to the respective guide rails 32 while guiding the secondmoving body 14 b with the respective guide rails 32 via the respectiveguided portions 31. In other words, the guide device 30 guides thesecond moving body 14 b along the displacement operation of the movablebody 10 while relatively rotating the second moving body 14 b about theaxis of the second rotary shaft 15B.

For example, in the drive device 20, when the movable body 10 isdisplaced from the tilted position P2 side to the erect position P1side, the load of the power source 21 increases with increase in themass of the movable body 10. For example, in the guide device 30, whenthe movable body 10 is displaced from the tilted position P2 side to theerect position P1 side, a higher stress may act between the guidedportion 31 and the guide rail 32 or dragging resistance may be generatedtherebetween as the mass of the movable body 10 increases.

Accordingly, the vehicular display system 1 of the present embodiment isconfigured to apply an elastic force between the movable body 10 and thedrive device 20, the elastic force being due to the displacementoperation of the movable body 10 from the tilted position P2 side to theerect position P1 side. The vehicular display system 1 includes anelastic member 24 that apples such an elastic force (FIGS. 2 to 9). Theelastic member 24 includes a main portion 24 a that generates theelastic force and engagement portions 24 b and 24 c provided at bothends of the main portion 24 a (FIGS. 8 and 9). The engagement portion 24b is a portion for engaging with the movable body 10 side, and appliesthe elastic force generated by the main portion 24 a to the movable body10 side. The engagement portion 24 c is a portion for engaging with thedrive device 20 side, and applies the elastic force generated by themain portion 24 a to the drive device 20 side.

In the vehicular display system 1, when the movable body 10 is displacedfrom the tilted position P2 side to the erect position P1 side, theelastic force of the elastic member 24 is applied as an assist force forthe force by the power of the power source 21 to the movable body 10.Accordingly, the vehicular display system 1 can reduce the load of thepower source 21 when the movable body 10 is displaced from the tiltedposition P2 side to the erect position P1 side. The vehicular displaysystem 1 can also reduce the stress generated between the guided portion31 and the guide rail 32 of the guide device 30 when the movable body 10is displaced from the tilted position P2 side to the erect position P1side. The vehicular display system 1 can also restrain the generation ofthe dragging resistance between the guided portion 31 and the guide rail32 when the movable body 10 is displaced from the tilted position P2side to the erect position P1 side.

The elastic member 24 is provided, for example, so as to increase theelastic force with increase in the amount of the displacement of themovable body 10 from the erect position P1 toward the tilted positionP2. For example, when the movable body 10 is displaced from the tiltedposition P2 side to the erect position P1 side, the load of the powersource 21 increases with increase in the amount of the displacement ofthe movable body 10 from the erect position P1 toward the tiltedposition P2. Accordingly, the vehicular display system 1 includes theelastic member 24 capable of generating the elastic force correspondingto the amount of the displacement, and can thereby reduce the load ofthe power source 21 regardless of the amount of the displacement whenthe movable body 10 is displaced from the tilted position P2 side to theerect position P1 side. The elastic member 24 is provided so as togenerate a larger elastic force as the mass of the movable body 10 islarger.

Specifically, the drive device 20 of this example includes a holdingbody 25 that holds the first moving body 14 a in a state relativelyrotatable about the axis of the first rotary shaft 15A, and the elasticmember 24 is disposed between the first moving body 14 a and the holdingbody 25 (FIGS. 3 to 9). In this case, the elastic member 24 is providedso as to apply the elastic force to the first moving body 14 a and theholding body 25 in directions opposite to each other along a circleabout the axis of the first rotary shaft 15A. Herein, the secondmovement direction conversion member 52B is used as the holding body 25.

A torsion coil spring can be suitably used as the elastic member 24 suchas that described above. The main portion 24 a of the elastic member 24serving as a helical spring is disposed on the same axis line as that ofthe first rotary shaft 15A, and the engagement portion 24 b at one endof the elastic member 24 is engaged with the first moving body 14 awhereas the engagement portion 24 c at the other end thereof is engagedwith the holding body 25.

The first rotary shaft 15A is inserted into the main portion 24 a of theelastic member 24 of this example so as to concentrically dispose theelastic member 24 on the first rotary shaft 15A. For example, an end ofthe first rotary shaft 15A may be projected from at least one of oneside of the piece portions 14 a ₁ and 52B₁ and the other side of thepiece portions 14 a ₁ and 52B₁. In this case, the elastic member 24 maybe disposed on a projected portion at one end of the first rotary shaft15A, or may be disposed on the projected portion at each of the ends ofthe first rotary shaft 15A. The elastic member 24 may be disposedbetween one side of the piece portions 14 a ₁ and 52B₁ and the otherside of the piece portions 14 a ₁ and 52B₁. Herein, the elastic member24 is disposed on the projected portion at one end of the first rotaryshaft 15A.

The first rotary shaft 15A is inserted into a space inside the mainportion 24 a so as to allow the main portion 24 a to rotate relative tothe first rotary shaft 15A about the axis thereof.

The first moving body 14 a is provided with an engaged portion 14 c thatis engaged with the engagement portion 24 b at one end (FIGS. 2 to 5 and7 to 9). Between the engaged portion 14 c and the engagement portion 24b at one end, the elastic force along the circle about the axis of thefirst rotary shaft 15A is applied from the engagement portion 24 b atone end to the engaged portion 14 c whereas a reaction force of theelastic force is applied from the engaged portion 14 c to the engagementportion 24 b at one end. The elastic force and the reaction force act,for example, in a tangential direction along the circle about the axisof the first rotary shaft 15A. The elastic force is applied from theengagement portion 24 b at one end to the engaged portion 14 c in thecounterclockwise direction as seen in FIGS. 5 and 7. In this example,the engagement portion 24 b at one end is engaged with the engagedportion 14 c in the direction of application of the elastic force.

The holding body 25 (second movement direction conversion member 52B) isprovided with an engaged portion 25 a that is engaged with theengagement portion 24 c at the other end (FIGS. 2 to 9). Between theengaged portion 25 a and the engagement portion 24 c at the other end,the elastic force along the circle about the axis of the first rotaryshaft 15A is applied from the engagement portion 24 c at the other endto the engaged portion 25 a whereas a reaction force of the elasticforce is applied from the engaged portion 25 a to the engagement portion24 c at the other end. The elastic force and the reaction force act, forexample, in the tangential direction along the circle about the axis ofthe first rotary shaft 15A. The elastic force is applied from theengagement portion 24 c at the other end to the engaged portion 25 a inthe clockwise direction as seen in FIGS. 5 and 7. In this example, theengagement portion 24 c at the other end is engaged with the engagedportion 25 a in the direction of application of the elastic force.

Each of the engagement portion 24 b at one end and the engagementportion 24 c at the other end of the elastic member 24 extends outwardin the radial direction of the main portion 24 a with respect to mainportion 24 a. The elastic member 24 is mounted such that an angle formedby the engagement portion 24 b at one end and the engagement portion 24c at the other end (hereinafter, called “angle between engagementportions”) is smaller when the movable body 10 is in the tilted positionP2 than when the movable body 10 is in the erect position P1. In otherwords, the angle between engagement portions of the elastic member 24decreases and the elastic force increases with increase in the amount ofthe displacement of the movable body 10 from the erect position P1toward the tilted position P2. The angle between engagement portions ofthe elastic member 24 is defined as an angle on the obtuse side formedby the engagement portion 24 b at one end and the engagement portion 24c at the other end when the movable body 10 is in the erect position P1.When the movable body 10 is displaced between the erect position P1 andthe tilted position P2, the engagement portion 24 c at the other endserves as a fulcrum and does not move. As a result, the angle betweenengagement portions is reduced while the engagement portion 24 b at oneend is pressed to be moved by the engaged portion 14 c. Therefore,between the engaged portion 14 c and the engagement portion 24 b at oneend, the elastic force corresponding to the amount of the displacementof the movable body 10 (angle between engagement portions) is appliedfrom the engagement portion 24 b at one end to the engaged portion 14 cwhereas the reaction force of the elastic force is applied from theengaged portion 14 c to the engagement portion 24 b at one end. Theelastic force is applied along the direction of the displacement of themovable body 10 when the movable body 10 is displaced from the tiltedposition P2 side to the erect position P1 side. Accordingly, in thevehicular display system 1, the elastic force is applied as the assistforce for the force by the power of the power source 21 to the movablebody 10 when the movable body 10 is displaced from the tilted positionP2 side to the erect position P1 side. Consequently, the vehiculardisplay system 1 can obtain an effect of, for example, the reduction inthe load of the power source 21 stated above.

In addition, the vehicular display system 1 includes the display device60 that displays the vehicle interior display information so as to bevisible by the user in the vehicle interior (FIGS. 5 and 7). The displaydevice 60 is configured to allow the user to view the vehicle interiordisplay information as if the vehicle interior display information weredisplayed in the information display area 10 a inside the frame 11. Thedisplay device 60 of this example forms the virtual image on the frontside of the information display area 10 a, and allows the user to viewthe vehicle interior display information as if the vehicle interiordisplay information provided by the virtual image were displayed in theinformation display area 10 a. Therefore, the display device 60 includesa display unit 61, the semi-transparent mirror (what is called ahalf-mirror) 62, a light source 63, and a display controller 64.

The display unit 61 is a device that projects projection light of adisplay image related to the vehicle interior display information. Thedisplay unit 61 may itself form the display image related to the vehicleinterior display information, or may receive the display image formed,for example, by the display controller 64. The display unit 61 isexemplified herein to have an image forming function. The display unit61 is disposed on the vehicle interior side of the movable body 10 andabove the accommodation unit 101. The semi-transparent mirror 62 isdisposed on the vehicle lower side of the display unit 61 and on thevehicle interior side of the movable body 10 such that the vehicle upperside of the semi-transparent mirror 62 is tilted toward the vehiclefront side. The display image projected from the display unit 61 istransmitted through the semi-transparent mirror 62, and forms thevirtual image of the display image (vehicle interior displayinformation) on the front side of the frame 11. The light source 63illuminates, for example, the frame 11, and is disposed on the vehicleinterior side and the vehicle upper side of the movable body 10 in theerect position P1, and also, on the vehicle upper side of the movablebody 10 in the tilted position P2.

The display controller 64 causes the display unit 61 to form and projectthe display image corresponding to the fixed position of the movablebody 10 so as to allow the user to view the vehicle interior displayinformation as if being displayed in the information display area 10 a.For example, the display controller 64 causes the display unit 61 toform and project the display image corresponding to the erect positionP1 and the tilted position P2. In the case of not displaying the vehicleinterior display information, the display controller 64 prohibits thedisplay unit 61 from forming and projecting the display image regardlessof whether the movable body 10 is in the fixed position. The vehicleinterior display information is not illustrated herein.

The vehicular display system 1 includes the cover member (notillustrated) for not allowing the user to view things unnecessary to beviewed (for example, the drive device 20, the guide device 30, and ribsinside the accommodation unit 101) while allowing the user to view thevehicle interior display information. The cover member is formed from,for example, a dark-colored semi-transparent synthetic resin material,and is disposed so as to close an opening on the user side of theaccommodation unit 101.

As stated above, when the movable body 10 is displaced from the tiltedposition P2 side to the erect position P1 side, the vehicular displaysystem 1 of the present embodiment applies the elastic force of theelastic member 24 as the assist force for the force by the power of thepower source 21 to the movable body 10. Accordingly, when the movablebody 10 is displaced from the tilted position P2 side to the erectposition P1 side, the vehicular display system 1 can reduce the load ofthe power source 21, can reduce the stress generated between the guidedportion 31 and the guide rail 32 of the guide device 30, and canrestrain the generation of the dragging resistance therebetween. Forexample, the vehicular display system 1 can achieve highermerchantability, such as a better appearance of the frame 11 of themovable body 10, by using the movable body 10 made of a mineral, such asa metal, as a raw material than by using the movable body 10 made of asynthetic resin as a raw material. However, when the movable body 10made of a mineral, such as a metal, as a raw material is used, a concernarises that, for example, an increase in the mass of the movable body 10increases the load of the power source 21 from that in the case of usingthe movable body 10 made of a synthetic resin as a raw material.However, since the vehicular display system 1 of the present embodimentis configured to reduce the load of the power source 21, a heavymaterial, such as a mineral, can be used as a raw material of themovable body 10. Accordingly, the vehicular display system 1 can achievethe higher merchantability, such as the better appearance of the frame11 of the movable body 10.

In the above-described example, the elastic member 24 is mounted so asto reduce the angle formed by the engagement portion 24 b at one end andthe engagement portion 24 c at the other end (angle between engagementportions) to increase the elastic force with increase in the amount ofthe displacement of the movable body 10 from the erect position P1toward the tilted position P2. The elastic member 24 may, however, bemounted so as to increase the angle between engagement portions toincrease the elastic force with increase in the amount of thedisplacement of the movable body 10 from the erect position P1 towardthe tilted position P2 (FIGS. 10 to 13). The angle between engagementportions of the elastic member 24 is defined as an angle on the obtuseside formed by the engagement portion 24 b at one end and the engagementportion 24 c at the other end when the movable body 10 is in the erectposition P1. When the movable body 10 is displaced between the erectposition P1 and the tilted position P2, the engagement portion 24 c atthe other end serves as a fulcrum and does not move. As a result, theangle between engagement portions is increased while the engagementportion 24 b at one end is pressed to be moved by the engaged portion 14c. The vehicular display system 1 of the present embodiment can obtainthe same effect as that of the above-described example even when theelastic member 24 is mounted as described above.

The vehicular display system according to the present embodiment appliesthe elastic force of the elastic member as the assist force for theforce by the power of the power source to the movable body when themovable body is displaced from the tilted position side to the erectposition side. Accordingly, the vehicular display system can reduce theload of the power source when the movable body is displaced from thetilted position side to the erect position side.

Although the invention has been described with respect to specificembodiments for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims arenot to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying allmodifications and alternative constructions that may occur to oneskilled in the art that fairly fall within the basic teaching herein setforth.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicular display system comprising: a movablebody that is displaceable between an erect position in which aninformation display area is directed toward a user side and a tiltedposition in which the information display area is brought closer to ahorizontal position than the erect position; a first moving body that isdisposed on one of a vehicle upper side and a vehicle lower side of themovable body in the erect position, and is configured to move in anintegrated manner with the movable body; a second moving body that isdisposed on the other of the vehicle upper side and the vehicle lowerside of the movable body in the erect position, and is configured tomove in an integrated manner with the movable body; a drive deviceconfigured to transmit power of a power source to the first moving bodyvia a power transmission device, and to displace the movable bodybetween the erect position and the tilted position while relativelyrotating the first moving body about an axis of a first rotary shaft; aguide device configured to guide the second moving body along thedisplacement operation of the movable body between the erect positionand the tilted position while relatively rotating the second moving bodyabout an axis of a second rotary shaft; a display device configured toallow the user to view vehicle interior display information as if thevehicle interior display information were displayed in the informationdisplay area; and an elastic member configured to apply an elastic forcebetween the movable body and the drive device, the elastic force beingdue to the displacement operation of the movable body from the tiltedposition side to the erect position side.
 2. The vehicular displaysystem according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is provided soas to increase the elastic force with increase in an amount of thedisplacement of the movable body from the erect position toward thetilted position.
 3. The vehicular display system according to claim 1,wherein the drive device includes a holding body configured to hold thefirst moving body in a state relatively rotatable about the axis of thefirst rotary shaft, and the elastic member is provided so as to applythe elastic force to the first moving body and the holding body indirections opposite to each other along a circle about the axis of thefirst rotary shaft.
 4. The vehicular display system according to claim2, wherein the drive device includes a holding body configured to holdthe first moving body in a state relatively rotatable about the axis ofthe first rotary shaft, and the elastic member is provided so as toapply the elastic force to the first moving body and the holding body indirections opposite to each other along a circle about the axis of thefirst rotary shaft.
 5. The vehicular display system according to claim1, wherein the elastic member is a torsion coil spring.
 6. The vehiculardisplay system according to claim 2, wherein the elastic member is atorsion coil spring.
 7. The vehicular display system according to claim3, wherein the elastic member is a torsion coil spring.
 8. The vehiculardisplay system according to claim 4, wherein the elastic member is atorsion coil spring.